Jakarta grabs Singapore granite ships
Indonesia has detained 24 tugboats and barges carrying granite chips to Singapore a month after it banned all sand exports to its neighbor, threatening construction in the city-state.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said 12 tugs and 12 barges - most of them flying the Singapore flag - had been detained by Indonesian officials Monday morning.
Yeo said he had been informed by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda that Indonesia has not banned granite exports to the city-state; rather, the detention was part of "administrative verification procedures."
But Singapore had asked Indonesia to "take immediate action" to release the detained vessels, Yeo said.
Relations between Singapore and Indonesia have soured this year amid a diplomatic dispute over Jakarta's decision to ban sand exports to the city state. Singapore has criticized Indonesia for reportedly using the sand export ban to pressure it in negotiations on an extradition treaty and border delineation.
But Indonesia said the ban had been prompted by environmental concerns and not by negotiations with Singapore.
Singapore's construction sector is booming after years in the doldrums, although Indonesia's action on sand has worried investors that the recovery may be halted by tight supplies. Yeo said Singapore's relations with Indonesia were "improving until recently," and that it was not clear to Singapore what sparked off the recent diplomatic spat.
"From time to time, we must expect countries to pressure us in the hope that we will then give way to their demands," Yeo said. REUTERS
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said 12 tugs and 12 barges - most of them flying the Singapore flag - had been detained by Indonesian officials Monday morning.
Yeo said he had been informed by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda that Indonesia has not banned granite exports to the city-state; rather, the detention was part of "administrative verification procedures."
But Singapore had asked Indonesia to "take immediate action" to release the detained vessels, Yeo said.
Relations between Singapore and Indonesia have soured this year amid a diplomatic dispute over Jakarta's decision to ban sand exports to the city state. Singapore has criticized Indonesia for reportedly using the sand export ban to pressure it in negotiations on an extradition treaty and border delineation.
But Indonesia said the ban had been prompted by environmental concerns and not by negotiations with Singapore.
Singapore's construction sector is booming after years in the doldrums, although Indonesia's action on sand has worried investors that the recovery may be halted by tight supplies. Yeo said Singapore's relations with Indonesia were "improving until recently," and that it was not clear to Singapore what sparked off the recent diplomatic spat.
"From time to time, we must expect countries to pressure us in the hope that we will then give way to their demands," Yeo said. REUTERS
